1. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 26-27, 2018
Columbia University Global Health
Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA)
Achievements and Challenges of Social Work Education in Kazakhstan
Baku, Azerbaijan, April 26-27, 2018
Gulnara Zhakupova
Assel Terlikbayeva
Sholpan Primbetova

2. Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (2007-2017)
GHRCCA was found 10 years ago with the seed grant funding received from the President of CU and by CUSSW - Lee Bollinger
GHRCCA’s Mission:
GHRCCA develops and advances evidence-based, sustainable solutions to emerging public health and social issues in the Central Asia.
Video:

3. Ongoing research studies
2014 –2019 NOVA - Evaluating a Microfinance Intervention for High Risk Women in Kazakhstan, NIDA
2015 –2020 BRIDGE - Improving HIV Service Delivery for People Who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan, Implementation Science project, NIDA
2016 –2021 UNI - Increasing Involvement of MSM in the Continuum of Care in Kazakhstan, NIDA

4. Social Work development
Inherited from Soviet past
Social Work as a profession remains to be low-paid, non prestigious among population
In 2009 the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection developed the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on “Special Social Protection”
From 2014 to 2017 the system of social services was demonopolized, where vulnerable populations were able to choose services providers
Social Worker position has been introduced in major hospitals and polyclinics of the state

5. First Kazakhstan Social Workers Forum
The first Social Workers Forum took place in Astana on September, 2017.
The Forum focused on services in health sector, trafficking victims, people in prison, homeless people, victims of domestic violence and others.
More than 600 social workers, who came from all over Kazakhstan, participated in the Forum
International speakers from Russia, Great Britain, Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic.

6. Social Work Education in Kazakhstan
20 universities in Kazakhstan hold license to offer social work in their curricula
Major universities include: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty (KAZNU), Eurasian National University in Astana, Karaganda State University, Kyzylorda State University, Eastern Kazakhstan State University
KAZNU has 127 bachelor degree, 3 master degree and 5 PhD students
On average 100 grants for bachelor degree students are given on an annual basis

7. Social Work Degree Program 4 years - cont
SPECIALIZATION DISCIPLINES
Actual Problems of the Theory and Methodology of Social Work
Individual Educational Path:
Management in Social Work
Social Policy and Organization in Social Work
Social Work in Clinical Setting

8. GHRCCA experience in teaching Social Work
Joint efforts of GHRCCA to bring together departments of Social Work and Public Health at Al-Farabi KazNU

9. GHRCCA teaching staff
Assel Terlikbayeva, M.D. MsC, GHRCCA Regional Director, CUSSW Alumni
Sholpan Primbetova, M.S., M.Ph., GHRCCA Deputy Regional Director, CUSSW Alumni
Gaukhar Mergenova, MD , MSс, GHRCCA NOVA Project Director, UAlbany alumni
Meruert Darisheva, MD , MSс, GHRCCA BRIDGE Project Director, UAlbany alumni
Mira Nurkatova, PhD, BRIDGE Project Coordinator, OSI Social Work Faculty Fellow at CUSSW
Gulnara Zhakupova, MSW, Columbia University, UNI Project Director, CUSSW Alumni

10. GHRCCA experience in teaching Social Work
Visiting Social Work Students from Columbia University Tattianna Unique and Maya T Bee at KazNU

11. GHRCCA experience in teaching Social Work
GHRCCA trains practicing social workers without formal education on social work, i.e., outreach workers strengthening their potential to provide evidence-based social work services

12. MAJOR CHALLENGES IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION
Demotivated student (low salary, non recognized profession, lack of jobs on the market)
Lack of motivated educators (low salary, high workload, limited social work educational background)
Language proficiency (most of SW articles published in English)
Lack of field practice opportunities

13. Thank You!
Contact information: Almaty, Kazakhstan, tel.: 7(727)